Where to Buy Vegan Meat Locally

The battle for vegan-friendly food availability has been an uphill one for years, but in recent years there have been victories. Whether you’ve recently made the transition to plant-based meat or have always been on the path, finding a vegan meat retailer near you isn’t nearly as difficult as it once was. Here are some locations to check for supplies and a few things you might want to know when you go there.

Major Chains

It might go without saying, but one of the best places to find vegan meat is at your local grocery chain. Still, while Target is in the top 10 locations that carry a variety of plant-based meats, Walmart is sadly underperforming. With that in mind, here is a list of a few major retailers that usually have a good stock:

• Target
• Costco
• Trader Joe’s
• Whole Foods
• Stop and Shop

Some of these are location-dependent, so you may not have the store locally, but most cities have at least one major chain on this list. As stated earlier, Walmart doesn’t have the best inventory but they do carry some vegan products if you have no other option.

The bulk stores like Costco are known to have a good selection, but keep in mind that you’ll walk out with a lot of the same thing. So, if you don’t like plant-based sausage that much, you might want to save that as a last resort.

Restaurants and Small Businesses

With the rise in vegan meats becoming popular, more fast-food restaurants have embraced the idea. Places like Burger King, with the Impossible Whopper, or Beyond Meat at Carl’s Jr. and Subway, plant-based meat has never been easier to find.

In fact, Beyond Meat can actually be found in several supermarkets in the freezer section. Another reason for the spike in popularity is the addition of the hume molecule to the meat that makes it taste as close to beef as possible.

While restaurants are slowly expanding their menus to accommodate the vegan movement, many smaller franchises are opening up around the country as vegan-only. Grabbagreen is one-such retailer that boasts a diverse selection of plant-based products, meats, and smoothies.

There are also non-franchised stores that have opened and become somewhat of a tourist attraction for vegan customers. Food Fight! Grocery in Oregon and Rabbit Food Grocery in Austin, Texas are two places that locally sell vegan meats and other products, so you might want to do a quick search to see what’s local to you.

If nothing else, there’s always the Internet. Sites like The Herbivorous Butcher and VeganEssentials will ship vegan meat right to your door, many times with free shipping.

Indulge Your Taste Buds

For years, the main argument against plant-based meat was the taste but that’s changed. With products like Beyond Meat being able to sway even the most die-hard meat-eater, it’s no wonder that vegan meat is taking over. However, some definitely tastes better than others so here’s a list of some of the highest-rated vegan meat on the market:

• MorningStar Farms Riblets
• Boca Chik’n Veggie Patties
• Hillary’s World’s Best Veggie Burger
• Trader Joe’s Meatless Meatballs
• Upton’s Naturals Traditional Seitan
• Gardein Seven Grain Crispy Tenders
• Tofurkey Plant-based Deli Slices
• Gardein Fishless Filets

Beyond Meat deserves a separate mention all to themselves, because the vegan community nominated their burgers, sausage, and beef crumbles for most top lists. It should also be noted that many of these meats can commonly be found at the grocery chains listed earlier.

Hopefully, these lists will help you on your journey of a vegan diet. As the plant-based industry continues to grow, these products will become easier to find in years to come. Until then, good luck and enjoy!